Braun has actually been pretty decent this year. He is by far not our main issue back there.
- Buzzo

To me Seeler is by far the worst defender out there, with Sanheim a close second.

Why? Give me specifics, not generalities. In last night's game, tell me specific examples of bad plays by Risto that demonstrates CF made a bad deal.
- jd250

Ristolainen's failure on the Pens first goal to be aware of where McCann is and either cut him off or get in the shooting lane and knock down a weak point shot that more of a pass. In the first period, Ristolainen lost positioning and coverage on 3 occasions leading to quality grade A chances around the net. He was better in the 2nd and 3rd period. He did turnover a puck in the 3rd period that led to another dangerous chance against but I think the puck bounced on him there, which happens from time to time.

I'm going to try and explain to you what quality defenseman do in the game and how they affect a game. So maybe you can see how Ristolainen doesn't measure up.
The very best defenseman in the game, completely control play when out on the ice. They control the puck and dictate play. Not expecting Ristolainen to be at this level.

The next level, which based on the cost of the trade and the contract situation, is where Ristolainen needs to be. Quality defenseman in this league, limit offensive chances and quickly end them. They transition the puck to create offense for their team and then join in the offensive end on the attack. They make a positive impact towards winning for their team. Ristolainen does none of this. In fact he plays more like a 3rd pair level defenseman. Makes some hits, blocks some shots, makes a decent first pass but unfortunately, he lacks the one high end skill required to be a quality NHL defenseman. Hockey sense. He doesn't anticipate well and he is poor in positioning and coverage. As Charlie O'Conner pointed out last night, who I'm not a big fan of. Ristolainen's hits don't lead to turnover and transition for the Flyers. They lead to more time in the defensive zone. Ristolainen to this point in the season, has made no impact on the team winning. He is a defender who isn't a very good defender.

I dont know if Brassard is a changed man now or not but I see some of you suggesting he ends up in bottom 6, with some saying 4th line. He was a little female dog in Pittsburgh when he didnt get top 6 mins. We were all so excited to get him for 3C but he sooked about that deployment and moped around the ice when he wasn't in top 6. It was very disappointing, especially given the load of assets we sent the Sens for him.

Also, I picked up Hayes up in Yahoo Fantasy and stashed him on IR. You guys confident he will find himself in the top 6 sooner than later? how about PP time? 1st or 2nd unit?
- MattStrat

Two core surgeries and brother passed. If he gets back and contributes to the level of 2019 20 it would be a miracle imo.

If you can’t see with your own eyes how awful he is then nothing I say will convince you.
- BiggE

So in other words, you can't ... just what I thought.

Two core surgeries and brother passed. If he gets back and contributes to the level of 2019 20 it would be a miracle imo.
- Hextall271

Yeah ok, fair enough and thanks for reply.

Lindblom is not snake-bitten, he just can't finish. I don't know if its confidence or what, but he has not demonstrated in over a year that he can finish. Coots was fighting the puck last night, no doubt about it, it was just a bad game for him. Regarding TK, I really don't care what he does defensively, that is not what we need him for. TK is a top line winger, I wanting driving offense and scoring goals, and so far this year he is doing that.
- jd250

No, Lindblom is snake bitten. He can finish and the goals will come.

You want Sanheim playing 20+ minutes a night??
- jd250

He plays that now. Do you watch the games?

Reading the comments you'd think the team is 2-5-2 and not 5-2-2. I agree they haven't played great as a team thus far, but the results have been pretty good. When they get Hayes and Ellis back that will lengthen the lineup.

The good news is Hart looks like a different player. Outside of one game, he's been great.

Season is early, they can still improve and hopefully get back to the team they were in 2019-2020.
- PLindbergh31

Whoa!! Where did this come from? I can't speak for others, but I'm disturbed by the fact that this seems to be last year all over again. Yes, their record was fine early last year too, but the warts were showing. Once the timely scoring dried up and the goalies went belly up it was ova. This seems to be a replica of last year to date. They're getting outplayed by every team they face and their defensive zone coverage is lost at best. Yes, Hart(Jones)has bailed them out so far, but what happens if he gets shell shocked again. I say fire the freakin asst. coaches!! When Ellis comes back break up Risto/Sanheim. That's a good start to avert disaster with this upcoming gauntlet of a schedule! Thanks!

Yeah ok, fair enough and thanks for reply.
- MattStrat

He could also be very motivated.. wants to do his brother proud type of thing. I don’t think he’d get pp1 time. Perhaps pp2. Others here can give you more

In the 3rd last night we briefly saw Provey and Risto together, I think that would be a great pairing. Maybe then Ellis with Sanheim is your 2nd pairing for a bit, but the idea of moving Risto to the 3rd pairing is ridiculous, the guy is playing well out there from what I see, and apparently what Bmeltzer sees also.
- jd250

It was one 45 second shift. Provorov is not great and Ristolainen is mediocre. So how would that pairing be great? Ristolainen playing on the match ups that Provorov sees would be a disaster. It's not ridiculous to move him to the 3rd pair with the RH, LH pairings.

Risto is playing as bad as Seeler .... Do you realize how ridiculous you sound right now?
- jd250

You have a reading comprehension issue.

As Charlie O'Conner pointed out last night, who I'm not a big fan of. Ristolainen's hits don't lead to turnover and transition for the Flyers. They lead to more time in the defensive zone. Ristolainen to this point in the season, has made no impact on the team winning. He is a defender who isn't a very good defender.
- MJL

I'm glad you mentioned this statement from Charlie O'Connor (I agree I'm not a fan either), because there are three parts to ending a chance, 1. separate the opposing player from the puck, 2. gain possession of the puck and move it up to a forward and 3, forward receives the puck and moves it out of the zone. All 3 steps are rarely ALL on the defenseman, that is why defense is a 5 man unit! Last night I watched Risto do step 1 consistently well, however he did not always do step 2 as well as I would have liked. But time and time again I saw the Flyers forward completely screw up step 3 and thus the puck stayed in the Flyers zone. So though I agree there is improvement from Risto here, I believe the bigger problem is the forwards he is playing with more often than not.

I don’t really blame any of the players. They are what they are and everyone seems to be giving full effort. I blame the GM for acquiring the wrong players (Risto & Nate especially) and I blame the coaches even more for misusing them.
- BiggE

The players have to share the blame. At the end of the day it falls on them to produce. The coaching has been bad. No argument.

The GM had clear cut tunnel vision wanting RR. With what he gave up he should have got a legit 2nd pair dman. Hell add a tad more if need be as clearly you are "all in" at that point. What's funny is the only deal the buff GM won was with the flyers!!!

Nate adds no value and is a testament to how little depth they have in the organization. The fact they have no one to step in for a 4th line center role is a a complete failure. Even if hayes and allison come back he will still be in the lineup.

It was one 45 second shift. Provorov is not great and Ristolainen is mediocre. So how would that pairing be great? Ristolainen playing on the match ups that Provorov sees would be a disaster. It's not ridiculous to move him to the 3rd pair with the RH, LH pairings.
- MJL

I disagree about Provorov. He has been playing very well considering that he is playing with Braun. The opposition has yet to score a 5 on 5 goal with him on the ice. Yes, his offensive game is lacking to date, but he has been playing very well.

So in other words, you can't ... just what I thought.
- jd250

Read what MJL posted, it’s spot on.

Risto is terrible in D zone coverage, takes himself out of the play to go for unnecessary hits and he’s mediocre at best in transition. He’s fine as a 3rd pair guy but you don’t give up a 1st and a 2nd for a 3rd pair guy. Over his career, he has statistically ranked among the worst players in the NHL. I don’t know what other evidence you need.

I'm glad you mentioned this statement from Charlie O'Connor (I agree I'm not a fan either), because there are three parts to ending a chance, 1. separate the opposing player from the puck, 2. gain possession of the puck and move it up to a forward and 3, forward receives the puck and moves it out of the zone. All 3 steps are rarely ALL on the defenseman, that is why defense is a 5 man unit! Last night I watched Risto do step 1 consistently well, however he did not always do step 2 as well as I would have liked. But time and time again I saw the Flyers forward completely screw up step 3 and thus the puck stayed in the Flyers zone. So though I agree there is improvement from Risto here, I believe the bigger problem is the forwards he is playing with more often than not.
- jd250

Ristolainen doesn't do anything consistently well. Ristolainen is the problem. He and his partner right now. The pairing is a complete mess.

It was one 45 second shift. Provorov is not great and Ristolainen is mediocre. So how would that pairing be great? Ristolainen playing on the match ups that Provorov sees would be a disaster. It's not ridiculous to move him to the 3rd pair with the RH, LH pairings.
- MJL

All I am saying is I would like to see those play together next game, I think it would be a very good pairing. Then when Ellis comes back you have options of moving him back with Provey or pairing him on the 2nd unit.

I disagree about Provorov. He has been playing very well considering that he is playing with Braun. The opposition has yet to score a 5 on 5 goal with him on the ice. Yes, his offensive game is lacking to date, but he has been playing very well.
- Phillywhiteout

Certainly he has been playing well. My statement was that he is not great. When I think of the word great for defenseman, I think of Victor Hedman. Provorov is not on that level. So how can a pairing of Provorov and Ristolainen be great?

All I am saying is I would like to see those play together next game, I think it would be a very good pairing. Then when Ellis comes back you have options of moving him back with Provey or pairing him on the 2nd unit.
- jd250

That is an awful, awful idea.

This is not on seeler though you need to add some more talent on the backend. York or Zamula should have been up to replace Ellis. This imo is all AV wanting in his mind the steady vet.

Wasn't the blue line supposed to be a strength many predicted a few years ago....

Ristolainen doesn't do anything consistently well. Ristolainen is the problem. He and his partner right now. The pairing is a complete mess.
- MJL

Sanheim is equally to blame. He isn't showing much at all.

Read what MJL posted, it’s spot on.

Risto is terrible in D zone coverage, takes himself out of the play to go for unnecessary hits and he’s mediocre at best in transition. He’s fine as a 3rd pair guy but you don’t give up a 1st and a 2nd for a 3rd pair guy. Over his career, he has statistically ranked among the worst players in the NHL. I don’t know what other evidence you need.
- BiggE

I want you to defend your statement by telling me about specific plays last night where Risto was completely out of his position. MJL mentioned Risto was not positioned correctly on the 1st goal, which is complete garbage, I mean complete garbage!! On that play Risto was where he should be, covering the right slot area. The puck was flipped around the boards to the right point where the defenseman flipped the puck on net. The puck was I believe deflected in by a Penguin forward wide open in the LEFT slot. Now ask yourself, whose responsibility is it to cover the LEFT slot?? I'll give you the answer, its Sanheim. Now go watch the reply and go find Sanheim on the ice. He is for some reason floating at the top of the RIGHT circle. Now let's ask the question again, who is supposed to be covering the Penguin forward in the left slot?? Let's all say it together ... SANHEIM!!

This has absolutely NOTHING to do with RISTO ... and anyone who wants say it does HAS NO IDEA what they are looking at!

I want you to defend your statement by telling me about specific plays last night where Risto was completely out of his position. MJL mentioned Risto was not positioned correctly on the 1st goal, which is complete garbage, I mean complete garbage!! On that play Risto was where he should be, covering the right slot area. The puck was flipped around the boards to the right point where the defenseman flipped the puck on net. The puck was I believe deflected in by a Penguin forward wide open in the LEFT slot. Now ask yourself, whose responsibility is it to cover the LEFT slot?? I'll give you the answer, its Sanheim. Now go watch the reply and go find Sanheim on the ice. He is or some reason floating at the top of the RIGHT circle. Now let's ask the question again, who is supposed to be covering the Penguin forward in the left slot?? Let's all say it together ... SANHEIM!!

This has absolutely NOTHING to do with RISTO ... and anyone who wants say it does HAS NO IDEA what they are looking at!
- jd250

In order to understand who was at fault on the play, you have to understand defensive zone coverage. As if Ristolainen is responsible for an area of the ice. For what, to make sure the faceoff dot doesn't score? This is not pee wee hockey. It
s not zone defense in basketball. As Ristolainen often does, he complete lost awareness on the ice. McCann was behind him! It's his man. In NHL defensive zone schemes, the right defenseman is not just responsible for the right side. They interchange frequently. Especially when playing an overload system.
As I mentioned also last night, you're right. Sanheim is drifting aimlessly in the high slot. He is also at fault. He could've gotten in the shooting lane. Konecny is also at fault. He took a bad angle and didn't get in the shooting lane at the point.

Your bias is betraying you.

Very disappointed that we didn't come out and take it to a depleted Pens team. Team D looked shaky. We had trouble clearing our zone. That is on the forwards. We lost some battles. Risto and Sanheim are a bad pair right now. Not sure if Risto is bringing Sanheim down but Travis looks like the second coming of Luke Schenn. Without the physicality. Skates into trouble and gives puck up. Of course, L. Schenn has two Cups, now.

Hart looks good. We'll need that all year.

PK is looking better.

PP is lost. I'm starting to see glimpses of set-up and new PP1 unit possibility, but we have to figure it out soon. Good to get one last night.

We picked up a point on the road (in the division) still without our 2C and top pair dman. BUT, we should have come out with a better effort. More urgency.

I want you to defend your statement by telling me about specific plays last night where Risto was completely out of his position. MJL mentioned Risto was not positioned correctly on the 1st goal, which is complete garbage, I mean complete garbage!! On that play Risto was where he should be, covering the right slot area. The puck was flipped around the boards to the right point where the defenseman flipped the puck on net. The puck was I believe deflected in by a Penguin forward wide open in the LEFT slot. Now ask yourself, whose responsibility is it to cover the LEFT slot?? I'll give you the answer, its Sanheim. Now go watch the reply and go find Sanheim on the ice. He is for some reason floating at the top of the RIGHT circle. Now let's ask the question again, who is supposed to be covering the Penguin forward in the left slot?? Let's all say it together ... SANHEIM!!

This has absolutely NOTHING to do with RISTO ... and anyone who wants say it does HAS NO IDEA what they are looking at!
- jd250

2
he was standing to the right of hart all by himself looking confused. while the pens player was left alone in front.